Jammu/Srinagar, August 11— Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered exemplary punishment for individuals and businesses found selling unsafe food, warning that strict action will be taken under the Food Safety & Standards Act.
Chairing a high-level review meeting, the CM directed intensified inspection drives across all districts to ensure the safety of perishable food items. He announced the establishment of district-level food testing laboratories and the setting up of entry-point check posts at Lakhanpur and Qazigund to screen incoming perishables.
Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to personally lead surprise market inspections, supported by mobile food testing vans. The CM also mandated that all food traders and vendors be registered under a formal licensing framework. Departments have been told to ensure safe sourcing, proper cold storage, and clear labelling of meat and dairy products.
In a major policy shift, Omar Abdullah ordered that food testing laboratories be established at every district headquarters, expanding beyond the existing facilities in Jammu and Srinagar. This move aims to significantly boost the government’s capacity to enforce food safety regulations.
The CM appealed to the public to report violations through Dial 104 rather than taking the law into their own hands. He reiterated the government’s commitment to coordinated action against violations in the sale, storage, and distribution of perishable food items—particularly meat, meat-based products, and dairy.
“People must remain vigilant and refrain from purchasing processed meat from unauthorized vendors,” Omar Abdullah urged.
